Hwasun County Council Opens First Extraordinary Session of 2026

Review of Ordinance Bills and Other Proceedings

On January 26, the Hwasun County Council in South Jeolla Province convened its 278th extraordinary session, marking the start of its first legislative activities for the year.

During the first plenary session held that day, the council listened to County Governor Koo Bokgyu outline the direction of county administration for 2026. The council deliberated and passed a total of eight agenda items, including: ▲ the decision on the schedule for the 278th extraordinary session of the Hwasun County Council ▲ a partial amendment to the ordinance on council committees ▲ adoption of the statement urging support for the administrative integration of Gwangju and South Jeolla and the realization of balanced development, sponsored by Assemblywoman Ryu Jongok, among others.

This extraordinary session will run for 15 days until February 9. The council plans to deliberate and vote on a total of 12 agenda items, including the report on the '2026 Key County Work Plan,' two ordinance bills proposed by assembly members, and ten items submitted by the governor.

In his opening remarks, Chairman Oh Hyungyeol stated, "In the Year of the Red Horse, we will meet the expectations of our residents through even more energetic and dynamic legislative activities," adding, "We will do our utmost to enact legislation and policies focused on the welfare of residents and directly related to their lives."

Regarding the discussion on the administrative integration of Gwangju and South Jeolla, he emphasized, "We will thoroughly examine the impact on the region's future competitiveness and the lives of our residents, and the council will fulfill its role to ensure residents' opinions are fully collected and reflected."

Furthermore, as this is the first session of the new year, he urged the assembly members to closely review the county’s direction and propose effective alternatives. He also requested that the executive branch communicate actively and responsibly with the council.

During the five-minute free speech segment of the plenary session, four assembly members took the floor.

Assemblywoman Ryu Jongok called for measures to support workers who lost their jobs after the closure of the Hwasun Coal Mine, noting that over 80% of the 276 laid-off workers are in their 50s or older and that the reemployment rate is only about 30%. She proposed short-term job support focused on the public sector, systematic management led by the administration, and the provision of substantial jobs during the process of fostering alternative industries for the closed mine.

Assemblywoman Jung Yeonji discussed the tax relief system for demolition and reconstruction of vacant houses following the revision of the Local Tax Special Cases Restriction Act, stressing that Hwasun County should review whether related ordinances need to be updated. She also suggested moving beyond the current maintenance-focused vacant house policy and launching pilot projects to utilize vacant houses as resources at the village level.

Assemblyman Kang Jaehong urged proactive administrative action regarding the issue of additional payments required by local housing cooperatives. He specifically pointed out the lack of transparency in the calculation of extra contributions, calling for stronger on-site inspections, supervision of procedural compliance, disclosure of accounting data, and the operation of a permanent consultation and mediation center.

Assemblywoman Cho Myungsun highlighted the frequent traffic accidents at the Jachisaem Intersection, urging fundamental traffic safety measures such as structural improvements including the introduction of a roundabout and the establishment of a smart intersection.

Meanwhile, upcoming schedules include reviews of ordinance bills and general items by each standing committee and on-site visits from January 27 to 28. From January 29, the council will hear reports on the 2026 key county work plans from 27 departments and offices, including the Planning and Audit Office, over a period of seven days.